Labthink C360M Gravimetric Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Tester
| Brand | Labthink |
|---|---|
| Origin | Shandong, China |
| Manufacturer | Labthink Instruments Co., Ltd. |
| Model | C360M |
| Test Principle | Gravimetric (ASTM E96 / GB 1037 compliant) |
| Test Modes | Gain-Weight & Loss-Weight |
| Test Stations | 6 independent chambers |
| Temperature Range | 15–55 °C ±0.2 °C |
| Humidity Range | 10–90 %RH ±1 %RH |
| Sample Diameter | Φ74 mm |
| Max Thickness | ≤3 mm |
| Effective Test Area | 33 cm² |
| WVTR Range (Loss-Weight) | up to 10,000/n g/(m²·day) (n = 1–6) |
| WVTR Range (Gain-Weight) | up to 1200 g/(m²·day) per station |
| Carrier Gas | Compressed air (≥0.6 MPa) |
| Drying System | Core-free, 20,000-hour service life |
| Humidification | Fog-free internal humidifier |
| Control | 12″ Windows 10 touchscreen interface |
| Data Management | DataShield™ audit-trail-enabled software |
| Optional Compliance | 21 CFR Part 11, GMP computer system validation |
Overview
The Labthink C360M Gravimetric Water Vapor Transmission Rate (WVTR) Tester is a precision-engineered instrument designed for quantitative determination of water vapor permeation through packaging and barrier materials under controlled environmental conditions. It operates on the gravimetric principle—measuring real-time mass change of sealed test cups containing either desiccant (loss-weight mode) or distilled water (gain-weight mode) as vapor migrates across a conditioned specimen. This method aligns with internationally recognized standards including ASTM E96 (Procedure A & B), ISO 2528, GB/T 1037, GB/T 16928, TAPPI T464, and YBB00092003–2015, ensuring regulatory acceptability in pharmaceutical, food, medical device, and consumer goods packaging development and quality control.
Key Features
- Six independent test chambers enable parallel evaluation of multiple samples or replicates, improving throughput without compromising measurement integrity.
- Advanced thermal-fluidic chamber design ensures uniform temperature distribution (±0.2 °C) and stable humidity control (±1 %RH) across all stations—critical for reproducible results across low-, medium-, and high-barrier materials.
- Fully automated environmental regulation: real-time wind speed sensing and adaptive airflow modulation; fog-free humidification; and a maintenance-free, core-less desiccant drying system rated for ≥20,000 hours of continuous operation.
- Integrated 12-inch industrial-grade touchscreen running Windows 10 OS supports both rapid standardized testing and customizable research protocols via intuitive graphical interface.
- DataShield™ software provides secure, audit-ready data management—including electronic signatures, time-stamped event logs, role-based access control, and export compatibility with CSV, PDF, XML, and LIMS formats.
Sample Compatibility & Compliance
The C360M accommodates rigid and flexible planar specimens up to 3 mm thick and 74 mm in diameter—including glass-fiber/aluminum-foil/paper laminates, polymer films (e.g., PET, PE, PP, EVOH), metallized substrates, coated papers, nonwovens, and pharmaceutical blister lidding materials. Its dual-mode capability (gain- and loss-weight) extends dynamic range coverage from ultra-high-barrier films (e.g., SiOx-coated PET, AlOx barriers) to highly permeable substrates such as uncoated kraft paper or hydrophilic hydrogels. The system supports full compliance documentation packages for GLP, GMP, and FDA 21 CFR Part 11 environments—including IQ/OQ/PQ templates, calibration records, and electronic audit trails.
Software & Data Management
DataShield™ is a validated, embedded software platform engineered for traceability and regulatory readiness. It enforces ALCOA+ principles (Attributable, Legible, Contemporaneous, Original, Accurate, Complete, Consistent, Enduring, Available) throughout the testing lifecycle. Functions include automated pass/fail evaluation against user-defined specification limits, statistical process control (SPC) charting, batch-level reporting, and seamless integration with enterprise LIMS or ERP systems via OPC UA or RESTful API. Optional 21 CFR Part 11 compliance includes digital signature workflows, biometric authentication support, and immutable record archiving.
Applications
- Development and validation of moisture-sensitive packaging for sterile pharmaceuticals, lyophilized biologics, and desiccant-containing diagnostics.
- Quality assurance of food packaging—especially for snacks, dried dairy, coffee, and pet food—where shelf-life modeling relies on accurate WVTR inputs.
- Barrier performance benchmarking of sustainable alternatives (e.g., PLA-based laminates, cellulose nanocrystal coatings) against conventional petroleum-derived films.
- Regulatory submission support for USP , ISO 11607–1, and ICH Q5C stability studies requiring documented permeation data.
- R&D of functional barrier layers in flexible electronics encapsulation and wearable medical sensors.
FAQ
What test standards does the C360M comply with?
ASTM E96 (Procedures A, B, and F), ISO 2528, GB/T 1037, GB/T 16928, TAPPI T464, DIN 53122-1, and YBB00092003–2015.
Can the instrument test both high- and low-barrier materials accurately?
Yes—the system dynamically adjusts environmental parameters (temperature, humidity, airflow) in real time to optimize sensitivity and repeatability across the full WVTR range, from 10,000 g/(m²·day).
Is 21 CFR Part 11 compliance available as a factory option?
Yes—validated Part 11 functionality, including electronic signatures, audit trail generation, and system security configuration, is offered as an optional upgrade with full documentation support.
How is calibration and verification performed?
The system includes NIST-traceable mass calibration weights, certified reference materials (CRM) for humidity verification, and built-in self-diagnostic routines for temperature/humidity sensor drift detection.
Does the C360M support remote monitoring or networked operation?
Yes—it features native Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity, supports standard TCP/IP protocols, and enables remote status viewing, job queuing, and data retrieval via secure HTTPS or VPN tunnels.
